Buhari nominates 46 non career ambassadors …exempts FCT, Imo

President Mohammadu Buhari

President Mohammadu Buhari yesterday forwarded forty six non career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate of the Federal Republic for confirmation.

In the president’s letter to Senate President Bukola Saraki, which was read on the floor of the Senate, the non career ambassador nominees included former Senator Olorunibe Mamora (Lagos), former deputy governor, Pauline Tallen (Plateau State) Mohammed Ibeto, former deputy governor (Niger State) and formerly nominated as minister before his nomination was withdrawn in 2015.

Others are former Supreme Court Justice, George Adesola Oguntade (Lagos), Mrs Modupe Irele (Lagos), Dr. (Mrs) Uzoma E. Emenike (Abia), Dr. Clifford Zirra (Adamawa), Maj. Gen. Godwin G. Umo (Rtd) (Akwa Ibom), Christopher J.N. Okeke (Anambra), Yusuf Tuggar (Bauchi), Baba Madugu (Bauchi), Brig Gen. Stanley Diriyai (Bayelsa), Enyantu Ifenne (Benue), Mohammed Hayatuddeen (Borno) and Dr. Etubom N.E. Asuquo (Cross River).

Others are, Engr. Francis Efeduma (Delta), Mr. Jonah M. Odo (Ebonyi), Uyagwe Igbe (Edo), Ayodele L. Ayodeji (Ekiti), Maj. Gen. Chris Eze (Enugu), Alhaji Suleiman Hassan (Gombe), Amin Muhammad Dalhatu (Jigawa), Muhammad Yaro (Kaduna), Deborah S. Iliya (Kaduna), Prof. D. Abduikadir (Kano), Alh. Haruna Ungogo (Kano), Justice lsa Dodo (Katsina), Dr.Usman Bugaje (Katsina), Professor Tijjani Bande (Kebbi), Prof Y. O. Aliu (Kogi), Nuruddeen Mohamed (Kwara), Prof. Mohamed G. Yisa (Kwara).

Also submitted are Musa Ilu Muhammad (Nasarawa), Mohammed Ibeto (Niger), Mr. Ade Asekun (Ogun), Barrister Sola Iji (Ondo), Adegboyega A. Ogunwusi (Osun), Major Gen. Ashimiyu A. Olaniyi (Rtd ) (Osun), Dr. Haruna Bawa Abduuahi (Plateau), Orji Ngofa (Rivers), Justice Sylvanus Adiewere Nsofor (Rivers), Jamila Ahmadu-Suka (Sokoto), Hon. Kabiru Umar (Sokoto), Alh. Mustapha Jaji (Taraba), Goni Modu Zanna Bura (Yobe), Alh. Garba Gajam (Zamfara) and Cpt.Abdul|ahi Uba Garbasi (Zamfara).

Meanwhile, in reaction to the letter, the Senator representing Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Philip Aduda, through a point of order, protested that a native of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was not nominated as non-career Ambassador in the list sent to the Senate.

Aduda cited Section 299 of the 1999 Constitution which states that “FCT shall be treated as if it is one of the states in Nigeria and that the President is the Governor of the Territory with the executive ministers of the federation serving as commissioners of the FCT while the National Assembly shall serve as the state House of Assembly for FCT”.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said he has noted the point of order by the Senator, assuring him that he will communicate back to the executive for correction.

Lagos State had the highest number of nomination with three nominees, while Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kwara, Bauchi, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Zamfara had two nominees each.

Meanwhile, Imo state and FCT did not have any nominees, while other states had one nominees each.